Another reason to do your own work......
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Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 80
Likes: 4
From: Florida
Another reason to do your own work......
Truck hit 120k this weekend so I tackled a number of things that were due, and a few wear and tear items: master cylinder, full brake fluid flush, rotors all the way around, new front bearings as part of the rotors, pads, fuel filter, rear diff opened/cleaned/refilled, oil and filter, radiator hoses, thermostat, and coolant flush/fill.
Doing your own brakes is a no-brainer.....the shop markup on brake work is significant. Doing the other things yourself, namely the oil change and coolant change, really don't save you any significant amount of money. However, when I went to Ford to pick up the gold coolant, I was reminded of why it's better to do some things yourself, if for no other reason than to make sure it's done right.
Conversation at the parts counter:
Me: Can I get a few gallons of the gold coolant.
Parts guy: We're out. We have some coming in tomorrow.
Me: Ok.....That stinks for anybody who brought their car in today for a coolant change.
Parts guy: Nah.....the guys just go out and get some coolant from Autozone or wherever to finish the job.
Now, I don't have anything against coolant you can get from Autozone or any place else - I prefer to use the Motorcraft fluids in my truck. What bothers me is that someone would bring their truck in to a dealer expecting the specified coolant to be used and would get something else.
On a side note, I did the flush using the Prestone Flush n Fill Tee installed on my heater hose. I got about 2 gallons out of the radiator via the petcock drain. I also changed both radiator hoses; I got another gallon off the lower radiator hose connection to the engine when I removed it. And I got almost another gallon out when I removed the drain plug on the driver's side of the engine block - I didn't bother with the one on the passenger side as it's blocked by the starter. The coolant was murky and definitely needed replacing.
So after spending more time to do the job than a shop would (wouldn't a lift be nice?) I still don't mind the busted knuckles and a cold beer afterwards knowing it's been done right.
Doing your own brakes is a no-brainer.....the shop markup on brake work is significant. Doing the other things yourself, namely the oil change and coolant change, really don't save you any significant amount of money. However, when I went to Ford to pick up the gold coolant, I was reminded of why it's better to do some things yourself, if for no other reason than to make sure it's done right.
Conversation at the parts counter:
Me: Can I get a few gallons of the gold coolant.
Parts guy: We're out. We have some coming in tomorrow.
Me: Ok.....That stinks for anybody who brought their car in today for a coolant change.
Parts guy: Nah.....the guys just go out and get some coolant from Autozone or wherever to finish the job.
Now, I don't have anything against coolant you can get from Autozone or any place else - I prefer to use the Motorcraft fluids in my truck. What bothers me is that someone would bring their truck in to a dealer expecting the specified coolant to be used and would get something else.
On a side note, I did the flush using the Prestone Flush n Fill Tee installed on my heater hose. I got about 2 gallons out of the radiator via the petcock drain. I also changed both radiator hoses; I got another gallon off the lower radiator hose connection to the engine when I removed it. And I got almost another gallon out when I removed the drain plug on the driver's side of the engine block - I didn't bother with the one on the passenger side as it's blocked by the starter. The coolant was murky and definitely needed replacing.
So after spending more time to do the job than a shop would (wouldn't a lift be nice?) I still don't mind the busted knuckles and a cold beer afterwards knowing it's been done right.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
Truck hit 120k this weekend so I tackled a number of things that were due, and a few wear and tear items: master cylinder, full brake fluid flush, rotors all the way around, new front bearings as part of the rotors, pads, fuel filter, rear diff opened/cleaned/refilled, oil and filter, radiator hoses, thermostat, and coolant flush/fill.
Doing your own brakes is a no-brainer.....the shop markup on brake work is significant. Doing the other things yourself, namely the oil change and coolant change, really don't save you any significant amount of money. However, when I went to Ford to pick up the gold coolant, I was reminded of why it's better to do some things yourself, if for no other reason than to make sure it's done right.
Conversation at the parts counter:
Me: Can I get a few gallons of the gold coolant.
Parts guy: We're out. We have some coming in tomorrow.
Me: Ok.....That stinks for anybody who brought their car in today for a coolant change.
Parts guy: Nah.....the guys just go out and get some coolant from Autozone or wherever to finish the job.
Now, I don't have anything against coolant you can get from Autozone or any place else - I prefer to use the Motorcraft fluids in my truck. What bothers me is that someone would bring their truck in to a dealer expecting the specified coolant to be used and would get something else.
On a side note, I did the flush using the Prestone Flush n Fill Tee installed on my heater hose. I got about 2 gallons out of the radiator via the petcock drain. I also changed both radiator hoses; I got another gallon off the lower radiator hose connection to the engine when I removed it. And I got almost another gallon out when I removed the drain plug on the driver's side of the engine block - I didn't bother with the one on the passenger side as it's blocked by the starter. The coolant was murky and definitely needed replacing.
So after spending more time to do the job than a shop would (wouldn't a lift be nice?) I still don't mind the busted knuckles and a cold beer afterwards knowing it's been done right.
Doing your own brakes is a no-brainer.....the shop markup on brake work is significant. Doing the other things yourself, namely the oil change and coolant change, really don't save you any significant amount of money. However, when I went to Ford to pick up the gold coolant, I was reminded of why it's better to do some things yourself, if for no other reason than to make sure it's done right.
Conversation at the parts counter:
Me: Can I get a few gallons of the gold coolant.
Parts guy: We're out. We have some coming in tomorrow.
Me: Ok.....That stinks for anybody who brought their car in today for a coolant change.
Parts guy: Nah.....the guys just go out and get some coolant from Autozone or wherever to finish the job.
Now, I don't have anything against coolant you can get from Autozone or any place else - I prefer to use the Motorcraft fluids in my truck. What bothers me is that someone would bring their truck in to a dealer expecting the specified coolant to be used and would get something else.
On a side note, I did the flush using the Prestone Flush n Fill Tee installed on my heater hose. I got about 2 gallons out of the radiator via the petcock drain. I also changed both radiator hoses; I got another gallon off the lower radiator hose connection to the engine when I removed it. And I got almost another gallon out when I removed the drain plug on the driver's side of the engine block - I didn't bother with the one on the passenger side as it's blocked by the starter. The coolant was murky and definitely needed replacing.
So after spending more time to do the job than a shop would (wouldn't a lift be nice?) I still don't mind the busted knuckles and a cold beer afterwards knowing it's been done right.
Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 91
Likes: 5
I'm with ya 110%! I too get great satisfaction from doing my own work on my truck. When I hear someone say "just took my truck in for new brake pads and rotors" Makes me ill. To work on your truck is to bond with your truck!
Last edited by screamin_eagle70; Feb 22, 2013 at 11:37 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 99
From: Coquitlam, BC
I totally agree... Working on your truck lets you know that you did it right (as long as you didn't screw up), and its cheaper, and gives you piece of mind....
On that note, and sorry for stealing your thread, but when I first did my front brakes the rotors did not need replacing. Just pads. But I pulled the rotors off anyways to inspect the calipers. My rotor had a bearing attached to it and the new ones don't. I couldn't get it off easily so I figured it was part of the rotor but I know the new ones won't have it. How do you get it off apart from pounding on it? and more importantly, how do you get the new one to seat well?
On that note, and sorry for stealing your thread, but when I first did my front brakes the rotors did not need replacing. Just pads. But I pulled the rotors off anyways to inspect the calipers. My rotor had a bearing attached to it and the new ones don't. I couldn't get it off easily so I figured it was part of the rotor but I know the new ones won't have it. How do you get it off apart from pounding on it? and more importantly, how do you get the new one to seat well?
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Ames, IA
I definitely agree with ya. I like doing the work myself so I actually know what gets done and how it's being done. AND, a guy can save a fair amount of money doing the work himself and then have another reason to dump those savings into more mods 
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 888
Likes: 110
I totally agree with you, as I will only bring my truck to the dealer if either I do not have the appropriate tool (computer, etc), OR if i have ZERO time.... Otherwise, I do all the work myself.
there is another reason that I find your conversation interesting. I cannot tell you how many threads I have read where members are being told by their local dealers that if they do not use Ford products in their vehicle, and potential warranty claims "could" be denied..... well, if the work was done at a Ford dealer, and you still got Non-OEM products, then why should the work that we perform ourselves be any different??!!
Now I am sure that not every dealership would either do that type of work, or give a customer that type of response.... but it does show you that they exist. This is why I have my best piece of mind doing the work myself!!!
there is another reason that I find your conversation interesting. I cannot tell you how many threads I have read where members are being told by their local dealers that if they do not use Ford products in their vehicle, and potential warranty claims "could" be denied..... well, if the work was done at a Ford dealer, and you still got Non-OEM products, then why should the work that we perform ourselves be any different??!!
Now I am sure that not every dealership would either do that type of work, or give a customer that type of response.... but it does show you that they exist. This is why I have my best piece of mind doing the work myself!!!